CPCU Update

CPCU was updated to reflect the changing nature of risk management and insurance and to ensure that students:

• Gain a holistic view of the insurance business value chain
• Develop cross-functional leadership skills
• Effectively provide solutions to business challenges across your organization

CPCU still requires 8 courses and 8 exams. The updated CPCU designation completion path includes:

• 5 core courses to account for a new course on data and analytics
• 2 courses in either personal or commercial lines
• 1 elective
• Ethics and matriculation

Students who completed courses under the old pathway will continue to have credit for those courses.

Rest assured, that you did not lose credits for the courses you've already completed to earn CPCU. Check your Progress Tracker to see your individual recommended pathway based on the courses you've already completed.

Course numbers and topics are the same, while course titles were updated. The new data and analytics course is CPCU 550.

The updated CPCU courses and CPCU 550 became available on the CPCU designation page and in the Progress Tracker in July 2023.

The content of the courses was updated to reflect the evolving risk management and insurance business so that students develop the practical leadership skills they need to lead the future.

The learning experience was also updated to match the needs of today’s busy adult learner—including more videos and interactions to help you acquire and retain the skills you need to be leaders, in addition to still offering a course book as a tangible resource.

No, electives in the updated program remain the same.

Yes. The new ARM path to CPCU continues to include all 3 ARM courses plus the updated CPCU 530, CPCU 540, 2 CPCU commercial lines or personal lines courses, an elective, and ethics. Please note that CPCU 410 is not part of the updated program, but provides credit for CPCU 530 in the new ARM to CPCU path. 

Students in expiring courses (CPCU 500, 520, 530, 540, 551, 552, 555, 556) needed to test on their materials by September 15, 2023. Expiring courses include ones where the course number stayed the same, but the course title and content were updated. 

Students in retiring courses (CPCU 410, 553, 557) needed to test on their materials by December 15, 2023. Retiring courses are no longer part of the updated program.

The Recommended Course Package still includes the online course, a printed coursebook, a printable study outline, as well as assignment quizzes, practice exams, a simulated credentialing exam, flash cards, and discussion boards.

The Online Only package does not contain the printed coursebook.

Pricing did not change as part of the July 2023 CPCU updates; however, there was a standard 2024 price increase, which did include CPCU courses.

If students did not pass their exam by the deadline, they will not be provided credit for a different Institutes course or exam.

No, the exams for the updated course versions were intentionally developed to reflect the updated content in the new courses. We do not recommend using outdated course materials for new exams.

As of now, there is no change to the exam format.

Associate in Insurance Data Analytics (AIDA®) designation courses do not waive the new course, CPCU 550: Maximizing Value with Data and Technology. Students who have earned their AIDA still need to complete CPCU 550 if earning CPCU. Additionally, CPCU 550 does not waive any courses within AIDA.

Since AIDA 181 is a required course for completing the AIDA designation, students who have their AIDA do have credit to the CPCU elective component, which includes AIDA 181 as an option.

Yes, students who were grandfathered into this credit still maintain this waiver in the updated program.

No, there are no current waivers available for CPCU 550.

Yes, if a student has completed the API designation, they continue to have credit toward a personal lines course in CPCU.

External waivers are not changing, so yes, an MBA still waives CPCU 540 in the updated pathway.